Peyton Hillis defends decision not to play because of strep: Cleveland Browns Insider

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis is back to 100 percent after missing Sunday's game with strep throat and flulike symptoms.

BEREA, Ohio — Browns running back Peyton Hillis defended himself against those who questioned him for not playing with strep throat on Sunday against the Dolphins.

Hillis has taken some heat for not suiting up, including on the WOIO Channel 19 postgame show. Analysts Bob Golic and Hanford Dixon wondered if Hillis should have sat out the game, but Golic stressed Thursday that he has more respect for Hillis than any other Browns player and doesn't doubt his toughness. Dixon more strongly suggested Hillis should have tried to play.

"The people that really care about me, and want the best for me would understand," said Hillis. "And the people that don't, then they don't. But I can't control that. And I'm going to do what's best for me at that point. If it's going to jeopardize my health in that situation, I'm going to take my own career and my own life in my own hands and do the best I can."

Browns running backs coach Gary Brown vouched for Hillis.

"I know he's a standup person," he said. "I know he's a great person. I know he would die for this team. If that's what the problem was, he would do everything he could to go. Obviously, he [couldn't] go."

Hillis indicated that people have questioned his durability in general because he was hampered by injuries late last season.

"People just make suggestions and accusations just because they can," he said. "They don't know me, they don't know my body. I go out there and play hard, but for me, I really think I'm very durable. What people say really [doesn't bother me].

"I believe I'm a competitor and I'm going to go out there and give my best no matter what. If my body holds up, it holds up. If it doesn't, it's out of my control. Other people may think differently, and you know what they say."

Hillis said anyone who knows him knows there's no way he could have played Sunday against the Dolphins with the illness and high fever that caused him to lose 10-12 pounds. He said he knew he couldn't play "in the morning when I went up there. Things started unfolding and my weight wasn't there. My energy wasn't there. I knew it wasn't my time that day. Me and the doctors talked it over and they probably didn't think it was the best thing to go out there."

He said it was hard for him to have to leave the Stadium and go home.

"It was very disheartening," he said. "I'm not the guy that was going to go out there and when I know I'm not 100 percent, I know I can't give it my all. I didn't want to hurt the team. Montario [Hardesty] stepped in there and did a great job and played and performed really well. I think everybody knew that about him, so I wasn't worried about it."

Hillis didn't say if coach Pat Shurmur tried to talk him into playing during their chat.

"I think they're more in-tune with how I was feeling and if I was sick or not," he said.

Hillis, who said he slept through the first 31/2 quarters of the game, said he's rebounding and will be fine for the Titans on Sunday. "Practice was tough [Wednesday] getting back in the groove of things," he said. "Getting my weight back and getting my cardio back has been a challenge. But I'm 100 percent now. I'm anxious and ready to get back out there."

He said Titans running back Chris Johnson coming to town with his huge new contract has not crossed his mind. Johnson was recently signed to a six-year deal worth $53.5 million, including $30 million guaranteed.

"I know other people may think differently, but it's really out of my mind," he said. "I don't care. If the Browns wanted to extend me, they would. That really puts the ball in my court. I've got to go out there and produce and where the good Lord takes me, it's where he takes me."

He said he was happy for Hardesty playing so well on Sunday, including his 67 yards rushing and 4.8 yard average.

"Montario's a great player and he did extremely good things when he was out there," he said. "He's really smart, and you know he can contribute. You know you don't have to go out there and do it all on your own. You know you've got a good guy behind you or in front of you that is just as capable of doing anything you can do. That's big for me, it's big for our team and it gives us some depth."

Brown on Hardesty: Running backs coach Brownwas effusive in his praise of all of his backs. On Hardesty, he said: "Going out last week he's really obliterated that wall of doubt. Those fears [of the knee] are gone, they're gone from him and they're gone from me. This is nothing more than a springboard for himself and this football team."

He said Hardesty's role will obviously increase. "It will give Peyton an opportunity to not have 40-50 touches a game like he did last year. . . . Montario gives us a different style, a different look. He's a shiftier type of guy, but he does have some power. He has that little lateral movement you like to see in a smaller back."

He said he's looking forward to seeing Hillis and Hardesty complement each other "because it's a wonderful thing."

Sheard not fined: Rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard wasn't fined for his roughing-the-passer call on quarterback Chad Henne, when he grabbed his facemask with the Dolphins backed up at their 5. "No, I pulled off of it really quick," he said.

Defensive cooordinator Dick Jauron acknowledged that it was very costly and that what he told Sheard wasn't profound: "Don't grab his facemask."

Pashos gearing up:Tony Pashos practiced with the first team on Thursday and will start at right tackle if deemed healthy, Shurmur said.